"IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS."
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—I have been favoured with a report of a meeting under the leadership of the Bishop of Hereford which has been described as "a Conference of Churchmen." The professed object is to unite a section of Churchmen who shall pledge themselves to maintain "the comprehensive character of the Church" and "the religions freedom of the people" secured at the Reformation. My sympathy as a Broad Churchman was at once aroused, until the programme proceeded to recommend the adoption of views and a course of action directly opposed to the boasted spirit of freedom and compre- hensiveness. To define "the purely Real Presence" in the Eucharist, and to reject whatever does not square with pre- conceived opinions on disputed doctrines, presents a curious illustration of "freedom and comprehensiveness." When authority such as that of Holy Scripture, or of the Creeds, or of the General Councils have not spoken, then Christian liberty should remain unfettered, if only for consistency's sake. —I am, Sir, Sze.,
Previous page
